Miracle Workers: Dark Ages Review: Holiday (Season 2 Episode 5)
Happy Harvest Day! The day may not live up to some cheerful expectations, but on Miracle Workers: Dark Ages Season 2 Episode 5, “Holiday,” it’s a time of being grateful for who you have in your life (that is, if they survive the day).
Equating Harvest Day as this era’s Thanksgiving helps put a lot of the episode in the perspective of celebrating a dark period of history. Miracle Workers is able to use that pre-built notion and turn it into a way of disappointing its characters through the use of political talk and family squabbles ruining what’s supposed to be a happy time, something many a family can relate to.
The show manages to tie in the current unrest and frustration that so many feel: the loss of facts and undying love for the ruler no matter what. King Cragnoor makes a solid stand-in for what we face today, the argument Al and Uncle Bert have coming across as though they are discussing current events rather than a world centuries before.
The ignorance and refusal to even hear the alternative plagues both Al and Bert, where both have to be right despite ruining Harvest Day. To be fair to both, Al comes into the battle with facts on her side, and Bert is coming into it all with a narrowed but grounded view. Both have their solidified perspectives, and it’s what they do after the battle that counts most.
The fighting and political leaning are clever, but it’s the effort to make things right where both characters end up saying a lot more. Bert’s gift, despite knowing nothing about it, is at least an effort to try, and Al bringing Bert back and letting everyone else enjoy themselves is as respectable a way to fix things as one can get.
ph: Stanislav Honzík/TBS.
Kevin Dunn as Uncle Bert is some of the absolute best casting the show has done so far. He brings a bullishness to the role, where his Bert Alerts and unbending, more-than-a-little skewed views bring an everyman quality that is endearing. Dunn is always fun to watch, and with this cast, he settles in perfectly.
Chauncley’s Harvest Day, though, is one to be remembered. While his family may have the best crown game in all of the realm, their tempers and need to be on top leaves Cragnoor as the only surviving sibling. Competitiveness and bloodlust come a little too naturally to Chauncley’s family.
Daniel Radcliffe does a marvelous job on the episode to show the desperation and need to have one nice day with his family. His look of worry as everything goes wrong is utilized so well every episode, but on this episode in particular, the disappointment over his failed (and ultimately deadly) attempts of bringing everyone together is the hardest felt emotion for his character yet.
That he finds happiness with Al’s family at the very end shows that he isn’t meant for the royal life, but is far more suited to a quiet, peaceful, unburdened one instead. He enjoys the little things, and Al may be the key to bringing him into that life more. Chauncley simply needs better influences.
Miracle Workers: Dark Ages Season 2 Episode 5, “Holiday,” is a reminder that no matter what anyone believes in, be kind to one another. That may be difficult, and the episode does a great job of showing how two sides come at an issue in totally different ways. Al may be right, but she goes personal rather than accepting that Bert is dug in with his opinions.
Kindness, however, wins the day. It brings everyone together to enjoy Mikey’s decent portrayal of a dog, and that’s what counts. Chauncley needs more of that in his life, and hopefully Al, Mikey, and Ed can help him with that more in the future.
What did you think of this episode of Miracle Workers: Dark Ages? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Miracle Workers: Dark Ages airs Tuesdays at 10:30/9:30c on TBS.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.